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"Time will tell if it was due to Macron being a good candidate or Marie-la-penn (sp?) turning people off."

Well, it's only an anecdote but a French friend told me this morning: "It's not a good day when you have to vote somebody that you despise."

Interestingly, I had almost the same conversation with an American friend in the last USA elections.

> This is the first big win neo-liberalism has had in a short-while.

IIRC the liberal party just came out first in the dutch elections a couple of months ago (ahead of the local nationalists) so I'd say this is at least the second.

Challenging times for France certainly, and the Le Pen vote should be a warning.

Marine Le Pen

I think it will be/is a little bit of both.